Posted by deirdrehbrt on March 3, 2006, at 21:19:36
In reply to Re: Integrity and Hypocrisy » deirdrehbrt, posted by Dinah on March 3, 2006, at 12:02:23
Dinah,
I agree with you exactly. Acting as you wish to become is not integrity. Nor is it hypocricy.
Integrity though, implies a wholeness and a completeness. When you're acting differently than you feel, you don't have that.I think that Jesus showed that actions motivated by legalism aren't the ideal. They have to be genuine. If the law could save, he wouldn't have had to die. Christianity requires a renewing of the heart.
If you can do that by acting as you want to become, then great! But if you're going to follow the Bible legalistically, and you don't have that renewing of the heart, and you're expecting that because of good works alone (though not heartfelt) you'll receive some sort of reward, that's the sort of thing that (to me) smacks of hypocrisy.I think that every religious tradition sets standards, and one of those standards is acting out of true compassion. Legalism isn't what cuts it. Praying day and night, giving alms, going to church, etc. Those are all good things, but if you are doing them without love, without compassion, and strictly out of a sense of legalistic responsibility, I dont' see that as integrity. It is something that you MUST do, rather than something you truly DESIRE to do.
I see deity as wanting us to DESIRE to do these things. I think that religious traditions tell us what qualities are good and desireable so that we can cultivate them and make them a part of us. Following them as requrements or commandments or laws isn't enough.So... I killed no-one today. I obeyed a commandment. Does that profit me? Of course not. But was I generous and gracious when someone wronged me... Did I refuse to hold a grudge. Did I forgive. Did I do these things because I knew inside that they were the proper way to respond. Did I do these things because I genuinely love my fellow woman or man?
Anyone can SAY "I forgive you". That fulfills the legal part. But to truly let a wrong go, that requires love and compassion.
I guess that's what I was getting at. Acting "as if" works depending on the motive. If you truly desire the qualities Christ demonstrated, you can't do it out of legal obligation.
Don't know if I'm actually making any sense here. Just my thoughts.
--Dee
poster:deirdrehbrt
thread:614466
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20051105/msgs/615639.html